Golden Arrows secured a surprise victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final on Sunday, according to News24. The result puts Arrows in a strong position ahead of the return match.
News24 reports that Arrows’ sharp finishing proved decisive against the reigning champions. The win was widely described as a major upset, with Sowetan noting that Arrows now have "one foot" in the final. SuperSport.com also highlighted the result as a shock in Tshwane.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso defended his decision to rotate his squad for the match, according to the Hollywoodbets Blog. He said the changes were "absolutely normal" given the team’s schedule. However, News24 separately reports that Cardoso was frustrated by his side’s slow play and what he called costly old habits in the defeat.
The result means Sundowns face a difficult task in the second leg if they are to reach the MTN8 final. Arrows will carry momentum and a lead into the return fixture, with a place in the final at stake.
The second leg will determine which team advances, and Sundowns will need to overturn the deficit to keep their hopes alive.
